NU-TEACH is a different path to teacher certification for career changers and recent college graduates who want to devote themselves to careers as teachers. Instead of the traditional route, through NU-TEACH you will take a fast track to alternative teacher certification in a rewarding, intensive one-year program. Best of all, your enhanced skill set will be all the more impressive with the Northwestern name behind it.
Mission to improve teaching
The NU-TEACH mission is to provide highly qualified teachers for underserved and underprivileged elementary, middle and secondary schools in Chicago schools.Typically, our teachers are recent college graduates who have earned at least a bachelor's degree and career changers who are determined to make a difference. Many have advanced degrees, and many give up highly visible careers to follow a driving desire to teach.
History of accomplishment
NU-TEACH started in summer 1998 with 30 interns. The program has grown each year, placing hundreds of talented teachers in Chicago elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools.Over the years, NU-TEACH Teachers have gone on to win some of teaching’s most prestigious honors. These include a Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching, multiple Golden Apple Awards for Excellence in Teaching winners, and numerous other awards and accolades.
NU-TEACH has an impact beyond Chicago classrooms because it collects data about alternative approaches to teacher training, designs innovative curricula and conducts research on how people learn.
Program overview
The initial session of the three-phase program at Northwestern begins in the summer with an intense, innovative, inquiry-based curriculum. This will include supervised summer student teaching in Chicago schools.After the summer session, under the mentorship of a master teacher, our interns head their own classrooms, earning a full first-year teacher’s salary and benefits. There is constant feedback and interaction between you, your mentor teacher and the NU-TEACH coordinating staff as you progress toward course completion.
Upon successful completion of the yearlong program, you will be able to apply to the State of Illinois for an initial alternative teaching certificate, permitting you to teach in Chicago for four years before applying for a standard certificate. Successful participants also earn eight credits toward a master's degree, should they decide to continue to pursue the Northwestern Master of Science in Education program.
Contact Us
Address:
NU-TEACH618 Garrett Place
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL 60208